The Renewable Energy Target is the central plank of national renewable energy policy. The successful scheme is driving the transformation of Australia’s energy sector while creating jobs and investment. Friends of the Earth’s campaigns coordinator, Cam Walker, went into bat … Continue reading RET Watch: Target a matter of urgency

Friends of the Earth’s campaigns coordinator, Cam Walker, has chimed in to the Renewable Energy Target debate with a letter published in The Border Mail. TONY Abbott says his government is “inching closer” to a deal on the renewable energy target “Renewed … Continue reading RET WATCH: Target has big impact

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten has entered the Renewable Energy Target debate. In today’s Australian FinancialReview,Mr Shorten called on the Abbott government to “ditch” the Warburton review and said any compromise on the scheme would be on the Labor party’s terms.

“If the Prime Minister wants to work with Labor to fix the mess he has created, he first has to rule out the recommendations in the Warburton review,” Mr Shorten said.

“That’s job one for Tony Abbott. This is the Prime Minister’s report with the industry and job-decimating recommendations he wanted. It belongs in the bin.”

“They have wrecked the political consensus, they have smashed ­business and investor confidence, and thousands of jobs are now on the line.”

According to Phillip Coorey’s AFR report, Labor would back the retention of the small-scale solar component of the Renewable Energy Target, while floating the idea of maintaining but deferring the 41-terawatt-hour large-scale target.
Friends of the Earth has welcomed aspects of Labor’s comments on the Renewable Energy Target.

Reports the Abbott government are seeking to “axe” the Renewable Energy Target puts a sharper focus on state government plans for renewable energy. With a Victorian state election on the horizon, voters want to know what plans the major parties have to secure renewable energy jobs and investment.

The Forum, presented by Friends of the Earth’s Yes 2 Renewables project, the Australian Wind Alliance and local businesses, will allow the political parties to set out their plans to secure jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector.